Stacking device



Feb. 16, 1937. l

A. E. AALAMGREN sTAcKING DlilvIcEA Filed Aug; 15, 1933 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE STACKING DEVICE' August E. Almgren,vHillside, N. J., assigner to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew Jersey Application August 15|,

6 Claims.

1,954,791 for Machine for making can opening keys.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of stacking devices embodying key magazines in which keys are received in` successive order, are stacked and the stacked condition maintained while the keys advance through the magazine to the end that quantities of keys may be removed from time to time without disturbing the stacked relation' either of the keys removed or those remaining in the magazine.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of stacking devices which may be secured to the discharge end of key forming or other machines and which operate to strip oiiD or hold the keys from feeding parts of such machines, which correctly locate the keys in stacked form as received and which thereafter maintain such stacked relation until,v during and following the removal of keys.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus ernbodying the present invention disclosing its attachment to a key forming machine;

vFig.'2 is a longitudinal section, partly-in elevation, as viewed substantially along the line 2 2 in Fig. l; a

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view o'f the receiving end of the device, with parts broken back and parts removed, the point of view being 'suggested by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

- Figs. 4 and 5 are part sectional and part elevational views taken substantially along the lines 4I- 4 and 5-5 in Fig. 1; and 4 Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line 6-6 in Fig. 2 and showing the re- 5 moval ofkeys from the magazine, 1

1933, serial No. 685,293 (ci. 21g-,7)

There is illustrated in the drawing only sufiicient of the parts of the key forming machine of my pending application referred to above to provide an attachment for the stacking device and to indicate the key ejecting or discharge elements 5 by means of which the keys are introduced into the stacking device. Such machine parts include a frame I i (Figs. 1 and 2) and a reciprocating mandrel I2 on which keys I3 may be partially or fully formed, the mandrel having movement in a block I4 bolted to the frame.

`While the machine of my` pending application ejects a key blank or a partially formed key-and while such a key blank is herein shown, in the operation of stacking the shape of the key or key blank is immaterial and accordingly the instant specification Vand claims will refer to such a key part in its broad sense as a key.

The stacking .device or stacker; preferably embodies a frame, or housing formed with a horizontal section 2| (Fig. 5) and vertical Wall 22 joined at one end by a web 23, the parts 2l and 23 being extended into spaced lugs 24 which carry a vertical hingepin 25. This construction provides a pivotal 'connection for the stacker, the hinge pin being pivotally carried in a lug 26 formed in the machine frame I t.

The stacker also embodies a supplemental frame or housing which is formed with a horizontal section 3l and a vertical wall 32. This supplemental frame is bolted to and carried by the stackermain frame. Bolts 33 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) secure together portions of the lower edges of the walls 22, 32, spacer lugs 34 being interposed therebetween to keep the frame walls separated.

'Ihis relation of parts provides a magazine for receiving the keys the space between the Walls constituting a magazine pocket or channel 35 into 'which the shanks of the keys I3 enter and along which they advance during the stacking operation. The keys are preferably held in a horizontal path while passing through the stacker, this feature having certain advantages, particularly when the keys are to be taken out of the magazine.y This will be more apparent as the description proceeds.

The stacker :trames with all parts carried thereby may be swung on the pivotal connection 25, 26 relative to the supporting machine frame I I into working or non-Working positions. When the device is in working position it is securely bolted in place as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. For this purpose the frame part '3| is provided with a lug 36 which is moved intoengagement with a projection 31 formed in the frame II. A 55 Vus bolt 33 carried in the lug 33 is threadedly secured in the frame projection 31 and clamps the parts against any hinging lmovement for the stacking operation. The ,stacking device,

. however, may be swung back out of key receiving position into the non-working position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 upon res1ot\42 is correspondingly formed in the frame Y part 3| at the top edge offV its wall 32 and the keys I3 move along these slots. The key head,

designated by the numeral 43, is directly sup-A ported upon the horizontal shelf bottoms or shoulders of the slots. 'I'he shank of the key,

designated by the numeral 44, extends dow'n in the pocket or channel between the walls 22, 32. To simplify the description of operation of stacking, the magazine may be thought of asv comprising two sections, a key receiving sec- Thetion 45 and a stack holding section 43. former is adjacent the mandrel I2 ofthe key forming machine and the keys I3 are introduced into the receiving end of this section upon each forward movement of the mandrel I2, this being the electing stroke ofthe key forming machine. 'l A Fingers 5I (Figs. 3 and 4) are located in the end of the magazine section 45 and have slight movement in clearance slots 52 cut in the frame parts 2|, 3|, there being a finger on each side of the magazine pocket 35. -Each finger is pivotally mounted on alpin 53 carried in its associated frame part 2| or 3|. These fingers are enclosed and held in working position by plates 54 (Figs. 1 and 5) which are secured by screws 55 to the frame parts. 'A Such lingers may. strip oif the key from the mandrel as herein shown or other stripping or electing devices associated with the key machine proper may be used to actually deposit the keys in the fingers. In such an alternate construction the fingers 5I will function as holding nv gers. In either event the fingers provide holding elements for one side of the key stack in the magazine.

Forward rounded, projecting and hooked ends 33 of the fingers 3| extend beyond the stacker frames on opposite sides of themandrel I2 and when the mandrel moves into the receiving end of the magazine (Fig. '3) the keys I3 carried thereby move past these hooked ends forcing the fingers outward on their pivotal connections 53. As the mandrel I2 moves back on its return stroke (Fig. 1) the hooked ends 53 of the fingers catch and hold the keys in the magazine.

Each finger 5I is provided with a tail 51 (Fig. 3) which is engaged at all times by .a button 53 sliding in a bore 53 cu'tin the frame 2| or 3|,

q Apeut 2| adjacent one eide ef the une or treve'l of the keys and a corresponding pocket 33 is similarly formed inthe frame part 3|. It may .receiving section 45 and the stack holding section 43, although it will be understood that this division of the magazine into sections is only a fanciful one and that no actual physical divi- 'sion exists as to the path of the keys.

A plurality of slide blocks 31 are confined within each of the pockets 55, 33, these blocks being disposed alongside of each other.` Each set of blocks is backed. up at their rear edges by a rubber cushion 33. 'I'he forward edges of the'blocks are V-shape and these edges are also beveled.` These forward edgesnormally project within the path of travel of the keys and are engaged by the moving keys during which time the blocks are forced back against their yielding rubber cushions. While permitting passage of the keys a solid s tack relationship is maintained insuring correct stacking' along the magazineV section 45. p

After passing the blocks 31 the keys continue to advance as a solid mass throughout the stack holding section 43. The feeding control for the keys in this second or holding section is effectedv I3, and' the clamping head holds the bristlesV together.

:Ine brush is rigidly heid with its bristles resting upon a shelf 13 formed inthe upper part of the wall 32 of the auxiliary stacker frame. -'I'he brush bristles are held down on this wall part by a clamping strip 14.f Anchor pins 15 extend up from' the shelf 13 and' project between certain of the bristles of the brush. A protecting cover plate 13 is clamped on the top of the strip 14 by a holding bar 11 and screws 13 passing through the parts 11, 13 and 14 and also extending between the bristles of the brush, are threadedly secured inthe shelf portion 13 of the wall locking these parts together as a unit.

In this manner the brush is securely heid in its position and accurately controls the passage of the keys preventing misalignment or irregular movement. As the ends of the brush fibres 1| wear out new surfaces are provided by a loosening of the screws 13 to unclamp the brush which is then moved forward to present a new front edge of bristles and to again bring them into the path of travel of the key shanks.

'I'he keys in passing along the edge of the brush remain vertically in their stacked positions and it will be observed that the magazine is entirely open above the key heads. The keys adjacent the outer end of the stack holding section 43 may therefore be easily lifted up or pulled endwise out of the magazine. It is often found desirable to further subject the keys, or key blanks as the case may be, to other operations such as subsequent slotting, flattening or welding to container parts and in Vany of these or other analogous events the stacked relationship ofthe keys should be maintained in order to simplify the proper feeding in such subsequent operation machines.

Fig. 2 illustrates a desirable manner .of removal of keys vertically from the magazine while maintaining their stacked form. A feed bar 3l (Figs.

2 and (i) or other suitable device` may be employed for insertiony into the heads .of the keys from the end of the stack and this is used to lift4 The stacked relationship of the keys is main-v tained on the bar and at the same time the remaining keys in the magazine are undisturbed. Such a bar Il may have a cross sectionshaped to loosely t within the heads of the keys and to prevent rocking o n the bar to the end that thefull stacked relationship is maintained during any transfer into other machines.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be appar-` ent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacricing all-of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being like, the combination of a magazine for receiving said ejected keys, a-nger located in said magazine for yieldably engaging the said key as it is ejected and for holding .it in said magazine and preventing reverse movement thereof, and yielding means arranged on opposite sides of said magazine and engaging between successive keys for holding the same in engagement with one another in stacked relation while in said magazine. A 2. In a stacking device for use with machines adapted to eject formed can opening keys or the like, the combination of a magazine having a horizontally disposed pocket for receiving the ejected keys and forguiding them in a horizontal line of travel, a finger cooperating with said magazine for yieldably engaging and holding against reverse movement a said ejected key, and slide blocks arranged on opposite sides of said magazine and yieldably engaging between successive keys for holding the same in stacked relation while in said magazine.

3. In a 'stacking device for use withmachines adapted to eject formed can opening keysor the like, the combination of a magazine having a pocket for receiving the ejected keys and for tion'ally and yieldably engaging said keys while in said magazine pocket for retarding their movement while permitting their vertical removal from said stack.

4. In a stacking device for use with machines adapted to eject formed can opening keys or the like, the combination` of a magazine having a pocket for receiving thev ejected keys, lingers located in said magazine for yieldably engaging vsaid keys as they enter said pocket to -prevent reverse movement thereof and slide blocks mounted in said magazine in the path of said keys and adapted to yieldably engage between successive keys to compress the same between said slide blocks and said fingers, whereby said keys are maintained in stacked relation in said magazine.

5. In a stacking device for use with machines Y adapted to eject formed can opening keys or the like, the combination of a magazine having a key receiving section and a stack holding section, ngers pivotally mounted in said key receiving section for yieldably engaging said keys as received'therein and preventing reverse movementl thereof, slide blocks located in said magazine receiving section and projecting into the path of travel of said keys to yieldably'engage the same and maintain the keys in abutting relation between said blocks and said fingers, and yieldable means located in said key holding section and adapted to engage said keys therein for retarding their movement therethrough, said key holdingsection permitting unrestricted removal of a plurality of keys therefrom.

6. In a stacking device for use with machines adapted to eject' formed can opening keys or the l like, the combination of Aa magazine having a key receiving section and a stack holding section, a pair of ngers pivotally mounted in one end of the said key receiving section for effecting the proper passage of said keys into said magazine,

slide blocks larranged in the opposite end of said key receiving section for cooperating with said ngers to maintain the keys in stacked relation within said section, and a holding brush located in said stack holding section and cooperating with said slide blocksto maintain the keys in stacked .relation within said holding section the while permitting removal of keys therefrom in stacked form. A

' AUGUST E. ALMGREN. 

